All this must be understood." "And they gain something worth having ?" she asked.
"It's a risk--of course it's a risk," he replied.

The word was one that she had been using frequently in her arguments with herself of late.
"But it's the only way--if you think friendship worth having," he concluded.
"Perhaps under those conditions it might be," she said reflectively.
"Well," he said, "those are the terms of the friendship I wish to offer you." She had known that this was coming, but, none the less, felt a little shock, half of pleasure, half of reluctance, when she heard the formal statement.
"I should like it," she began, "but--" "Would Rodney mind ?" "Oh no," she replied quickly.
"No, no, it isn't that," she went on, and again came to an end.

She had been touched by the unreserved and yet ceremonious way in which he had made what he called his offer of terms, but if he was generous it was the more necessary for her to be cautious.

They would find themselves in difficulties, she speculated; but, at this point, which was not very far, after all, upon the road of caution, her foresight deserted her.
She sought for some definite catastrophe into which they must inevitably plunge.

But she could think of none.